Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, Volume X: Exposition of the Dvādaśāṅga Pratītyasamutpāda (Part VI)

Question: For what reason are the twelve links of existence, beginning with ignorance, explained in such a sequence?

Answer: All foolish beings first fail to understand the matters they ought to know. Subsequently, regarding those matters they fail to understand, they initiate unwholesome actions. Due to performing unwholesome actions, their minds become perverted. Because their minds are perverted, the bonds of defilements cause continuous rebirth. Due to the continuity of rebirth, the six sense faculties become fully developed. Because the sense faculties are fully developed, they experience objects through the two aspects [of the body and its environment].

Explanation: Due to experiencing objects, they become either indulgent or filled with craving. Because of craving, while seeking in various directions, their afflictions increase. Due to the increase of afflictions, they initiate karmic actions leading to future existences, whether desirable or undesirable. Due to the maturing power of the initiated karmic actions, the suffering results arise within the five destinies of cyclic existence. Once the suffering results arise, there follow such sufferings as aging and death—namely, the suffering of aging and death induced by the changes of the physical body, and the suffering of sorrow, lamentation, and mental distress induced by changes in external circumstances. Therefore, the World-Honored One explained the twelve links in this sequence.

Furthermore, there is another sequential distinction, established based on two conditions: the condition of the internal body and the condition of experiencing objects. The condition of the internal body comprises the first six links. The condition of experiencing objects comprises the latter six links. First, regarding the internal body, beings give rise to ignorance such as the view of self. Due to this, they fail to comprehend that the karmically matured suffering results are induced by their actions, and thus they initiate various karmic actions.

Explanation: After the actions are initiated, they frequently engage in discursive thoughts following those actions. Because the actions and consciousness act as companions, they can induce three types of suffering results in the future: the suffering result pertaining to the initial formation of the faculties [in the womb], the suffering result pertaining to the full development of the faculties [after birth], and the suffering result pertaining to the experience of objects. This begins with name-and-form and ends with contact.

Dedication: May the merit from all Dharma propagation and group practice on our online platform be dedicated to all beings in the Dharma realm and to the people of the world. We pray for world peace, the cessation of wars, the extinction of conflict, and the complete alleviation of all disasters. May the people of all nations unite in mutual aid with compassionate hearts. May there be favorable weather, national prosperity, and peace for all. May all beings deeply believe in cause and effect, cherish compassionate hearts free from killing, widely cultivate wholesome connections and virtuous deeds, take refuge in the Buddha and study the Dharma, increase their roots of goodness, recognize suffering, abandon its origins, aspire to cessation, and cultivate the path, close the door to the evil destinies, and open the path to Nirvana. May Buddhism flourish eternally and the true Dharma abide forever. May the burning house of the three realms be transformed into the lotus land of Ultimate Bliss.